American and Soviet Leaders’ Policies During the Cold
War
(Depth Study 3: International History, 1945-1991)
(Cambridge International AS and A level History 9389)
*US PRESIDENTIAL POLICIES DURING COLD WAR*
P. Truman (1945-1953)
• Policy ideas- Containment - Truman Doctrine
● How put into practice- Marshall Plan, NATO, NSC-68, Increase in mili spending
setting up mili bases around world, Support groups resisting Comm groups like S.
Korea + Taiwan.
● Successes- Containment- successful in EU, Marshall Plan rebuilt EU economies,
Berlin blockade resisted, W. Germany created as democratic + econ stable country,
Japan emerging as strong anti-Comm country, Comm in Korea contained.
● Failures- Involved US in Indochina- failed appreciate complexity Asian nationalism,
Massive increase mili spending as NSC-68, China now enemy.
● Legacy- Huge commitment defence democracy + anti-Comm govs worldwide,
Commitment Indochina + massive mili expenditure.
P. Eisenhower (1953-1961)
● Policy ideas- Containment- ‘New Look’ and ‘Massive Retaliation’, Domino effect,
Eisenhower Doctrine, no attempts liberate Comm territory.
● How put into practice- Continuation Truman's actions, also increased reliance on
nukes, used covert operations by CIA, Economic aid + intervention M-East, more
prepared negotiate with USSR.
● Successes- Containment- successful in EU, West still in Berlin, strengthened NATO, K.
war ended, Massive retaliation policy deterred Chinese actions against Taiwan,
Lebanon + Jordan allies in M. East secured friendly gov. in Iran after CIA coup 1953,
Competent handling of Suez crisis, attempted control mili spending, Achieved better
relations with USSR.
● Failures- Indochina: failed take part 1956 elections discredited US aims in Nam,
Supported Diem who was oppressive ruler. CIA intervention Guatemala + Iran
, condemned US as imperialist, Reliance on covert operations made CIA too powerful,
Embarrassment over U-2 flight.
● Legacy- Left Kennedy difficult legacy, unsolved problems Cuba, Nam + Laos, also
crisis US-Soviet relations after U-2 incident, CIA planning Invasion Cuba.
P. Kennedy (1961-1963)
● Policy ideas- Containment- flexible response, Domino effect.
● How put into practice- Continuation of Truman's actions, continued Eisenhower's
policy of increasing reliance of nukes, built up conventional forces + use of CIA,
prepared negotiate with USSR, introduced Green Beret as counter insurgency force,
wanted give aid to dev. countries, Peace corps send young Americans to 3rd World
countries to give aid.
● Successes- Containment- successful in EU as safeguarded West position Berlin,
successful handling Khrushchev at Vienna Summit, skilful handling CMC, US
maintains nuke supremacy, starts space programme + arms agreements with USSR,
Hot-line established.
● Failures- Econ aid sent to L-America, US achieved aims, Bay Pigs humiliating for US,
increased aid to S. Nam, tied into supporting South after Diem was assassinated.
● Legacy- Improved relations with USSR, acceptance of nuke danger + beginning arms
control agreements, Germany removed as issue, CMC resolved, space programme
established, US in increasingly difficult position in Nam.
P. Johnson (1963-1969)
● Policy ideas- Containment and Domino effect.
● How put into practice- Continuation of Truman's actions and US commitment in M-
East + Asia stepped up, Involvement Nam as sent troops, helped anti-Comm groups
Latin America.
● Success- Containment- continued to be successful, major crises when he was in
power.
● Failures- Intervention DR support Conservative junta against counter-coup to restore
democratic gov of Bosch, he said rev smashed by leading democracy in world, failed
stop escalation of Nam conflict, Tet Offensive major US failure.
● Legacy- Divided opinion US role in world, questioning of US involvement in Nam.
